This blog is a place for me to post my homilies and other assorted things

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Happy Easter

Easter Sunday Homily 2017:

I hope you will
all excuse me if I mess up anything this morning.You see I was up pretty late last night.Last night we celebrated our Easter Vigil,
which if you have never been is a pretty amazing event.We start with a huge bonfire. Then we blessed this beautiful candle.We heard many scripture readings, blessed the
Easter water.We baptized people, we
confirmed people.It’s an amazing event.

But, the reason I’m
tired is because it started at 9:00 and I didn’t get home till after
midnight.Why shouldn’t we start that
thing a little bit earlier?Well, the
laws of the church state that the entire Vigil must take place at night.This is why we start at 9:00, so that it
takes place after sunset and after the twilight.The whole vigil takes place at night.And that got me thinking about the importance
of the night at Easter.I mean think
about it.Yesterday when it was light it
was Holy Saturday.Jesus was in the
tomb.There was sadness in the air.Now, here we are in the morning.It’s light again and we are filled with
joy.So what exactly happened last
night?And why does the vigil which
celebrates the resurrection take place at night?

First off, we don’t
know the precise minute when Jesus was raised from the dead.We just know that people were there Saturday,
then Sunday morning the tomb was empty.So we know it took place sometime in the night.But, I think there is a deeper more symbolic
reason.

What does the
night symbolize?Darkness, emptiness,
quiet.There’s something unsettling
about the night, something off putting about the dark.How many parents out there have had to
convince your children: there’s nothing to be afraid of in the dark?Yet, even as adults, we have had scary
moments at night I’m sure…I remember
driving home late from an ND football game.I was the only one awake in the car, it was after midnight.I was so scared I’d fall asleep and wreck the
car (I didn’t obviously).One time I was
on vacation with a friend and we had this idea of going into the ocean after
dark.Seemed like a good idea.But, we both got so spooked after like 5
seconds that we practically ran out of the water.And don’t get me started on nightmares.Just the other day I woke up in a cold sweat
because I dreamed that I accidentally fell asleep in my house and slept through
someone’s wedding.People don’t usually
appreciate it when you sleep through their wedding.The night can be scary.It’s dangerous too.Nothing good happens after 2:00 AM…

And yet, our Vigil
takes place entirely at night.Amazing.Christ has the power to
transform sin into holiness, death into life, even darkness into light.This is why we start our vigil outside by the
Easter fire.That bonfire is a whole lot
of fun, but it is also a proclamation into the night: you don’t have power over
us.You might be dark and scary, but
Christ has conquered over you.I won’t
be afraid of the darkness, because I have the light of Christ.

Did you notice the
message of Jesus when he rose from the dead?He says, do not be afraid.First,
the angel says: do not be afraid.Then
Jesus himself: do not be afraid.I think
that this message works on many levels.First, the practical: do not be afraid about this empty tomb.Nothing has gone wrong.In fact, something amazing has gone
right.Jesus, the one who died, has been
raised again.Death seemed to win, but
Christ is victorious.So do not be
afraid.But, this message of Jesus seems
to be a much deeper message: do not be afraid at all.I am here.I am alive.Do not let the
darkness bother you, I am here.Do not
be afraid of dying, all who believe in me will live.Don’t live a life of fear, I am with you
always.Do not be afraid.

I can certainly
say that this message hits home for me.I’m always afraid.I’m afraid I’m
not good enough.I’m afraid that I’m a
sinner.I’m afraid that I will stumble,
fail, fall.Jesus knows this.No wonder Jesus says to me, you, and
everyone: do not be afraid.

We know that Jesus
came to deliver us from evil.We know
that this means the forgiveness of our sins as well as the gift of eternal
life.But, even more, Jesus came to
deliver us from all evil.This includes
fear, pain, anxiety, depression, addiction, you name it.My message for all of you tonight is to widen
your vision for the power of the resurrection.

I think that when we
think about Easter and the resurrection we know that this means that Christ
destroyed death, which is amazing and true.But, Jesus is the light that came to banish all darkness.So, what’s the next level?The resurrection should change your life here
and now, not just simply on the day when we die.Jesus wants to destroy all the darkness in
your life, not just at some point in the distant future.

Thursday night we
heard that Peter tried to stop Jesus from washing his feet.He felt inadequate.Yesterday we heard why he was inadequate when
he denied Jesus three times.But, even
after all that, Jesus tells the disciples this message: don’t be afraid.Jesus knows our weaknesses.He knows our sinfulness.He knows our darkness.Yet, he died and was raised to deliver us
from all the power of the enemy, all the power of the darkness.

So, this morning
we all declare that we are not afraid of the dark.This candle proclaims that Christ is
alive.This candle is a symbol that
darkness doesn’t get to win.Let this
light shine in your hearts, in your minds, and in your lives.Jesus wants to get rid of all your
darkness.Don’t hold back, don’t close
up, open wide the doors of your hearts and your lives.Jesus died to enter into the darkness.And now he rises to bring his light into the
lives of all who believe in him.

No wonder we sing
alleluia.This work means: praise be to
God.That is the song in our hearts
tonight: praise be to God.Jesus is
risen.Do not be afraid.